Lauren Bennett, featured artist on LMFAO’s global hit Party Rock Anthem and member of the girl group G.R.L., has died at the age of 37. G.R.L. shared the news on Instagram, expressing deep sorrow over her loss. The group wrote, ‘With great sadness we share the news of the passing of our beloved Lauren. Our hearts are broken and we cannot begin to express how much she meant to us.’ No cause of death was specified.

Early Career and Rise to Fame

Born in Meopham, Kent, UK, Bennett began performing in local talent contests and pubs before auditioning for The X Factor as a teenager. After being eliminated from the final 12, she was invited to audition for Paradiso Girls, a new girl group. She moved to Los Angeles at 17 to join the group, which released the single Patron Tequila in 2009, featuring Lil Jon and Eve. The track reached No. 3 on the US dance club songs chart.

Bennett gained international fame after collaborating on Party Rock Anthem with LMFAO in 2011, a song that topped the Billboard Hot 100 for six weeks. She later joined G.R.L., a five-member all-women band, with whom she recorded songs like Ugly Heart and Wild Wild Love featuring Pitbull. Ugly Heart reached the UK Top 20 and the Top 5 in Australia and New Zealand.

Advocacy and Personal Impact

Following the 2014 death of G.R.L. member Simone Battle, the group released the tribute single Lighthouse and partnered with the mental health charity Give an Hour. Bennett emphasized the music industry’s influence on youth and the importance of using their platform to support mental health awareness. ‘There’s a lot of young people who are taking their own lives, and the music industry is so influential on youth. Hopefully, for us, we would love to help at least one person,’ she said at the time.

Despite the challenges, G.R.L. continued to perform and briefly reunited as a four-piece in 2020. In their tribute to Bennett, the group said, ‘We will forever cherish the love, laughter, and countless memories she gave us.’

Legacy and Tributes

Bennett’s death has prompted an outpouring of tributes from fans and fellow musicians. A tweet from user @uaidarko read, ‘Meu Deus? A cantora Lauren Bennett faleceu hoje, aos 37 anos. Descanse em paz, diva.’ Another user from the Indian Observer wrote, ‘Reports are circulating that singer Lauren Bennett has passed away at the age of 37. If confirmed, this would be a heartbreaking loss. My thoughts are with her family, friends, and fans. Rest in peace.’

G.R.L. members Natasha Slayton, Emmalyn Estrada, and Paula van Oppen posted the tribute message on the group’s Instagram account: ‘Our hearts are broken and we cannot even begin to express how much she meant to us. We will forever cherish the love, laughter, and countless memories she gave us.’